Nicole Michele Johnson Phelps (born July 12, 1985) is an American model and beauty queen who was Miss California USA 2010 and competed in the Miss USA pageant. Early life and education Johnson, the daughter of Annette, a science teacher, and Richard, a pharmaceutical sales manager, was born in Colorado Springs, Colorado, spent her early childhood in Pennsylvania, and moved to Westlake Village, California, prior to starting middle school. She graduated from Westlake High School in 2003. In 2007, Johnson graduated with honors from the University of Southern California with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication, concentrating in sports and entertainment. Career When Johnson was 17, she read an advertisement in the Thousand Oaks Acorn for Miss California Teenager. Johnson, a student at Moorpark College, wanted to transfer to the University of Southern California and thought the scholarship would help pay her education. Out of 304 contestants Johnson took first runner-up. After previously being first runner-up in the 2007 pageant, Johnson won the Miss California USA 2010 title in November 2009. She went on to compete in the Miss USA 2010 pageant held in Las Vegas where she placed ninth. She had been considered a favorite to win the title. Personal life On February 21, 2015, Johnson became engaged to swimmer Michael Phelps. Johnson and Phelps had first met at the 2007 ESPY Awards. They started dating in 2009 and temporarily broke up prior to the 2012 Summer Olympics before reuniting in 2014. On June 13, 2016, the couple wed in a private ceremony. The couple have three sons together. References External links Nicole Johnson's Miss USA profile 1985 births Living people People from Westlake Village, California USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism alumni Miss USA 2010 delegates